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Music From Marlboro Concert Given With Women in Charge

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February 9, 1972, Page 44 The New York Times Archives

The women were in charge at the Music from Marlboro concert Monday night in Tully Hall. Perhaps it was sheer imagination, but one result was that the performances of the four chamber works on the program seemed to take on especially gracious, sensitively lined and lyrically poised qualities—all of which was quite appropriate for the music at hand.

Betty Allen joined Miss Foley with Paula Robison, flute, and Cristina Ortiz, piano, in Ravel's sensuous song cycle “Chansons madecasses.” Miss Allen might have treated the vocal line with a bit more flexibility and articulated the texts with greater clarity. Even so, her smoky mezzo sounded wholly beguiling, and the accompaniment was superb.

Faure's friendly little Fantaisie for flute and piano received affectionate care from Miss Robison and Miss Ortiz, contrasting nicely with the darker note struck by Brahms's Piano Quartet in C minor. The four players conjured up beautifully creamy balance of textures throughout this work, reserving a hushed, dreamy repose and some spectacularly integrated rubato effects for one of Brahms's loveliest slow movements. The finale bristled with energy and pointed attack, capping a well‐nigh perfect performance.

PETER G. DAVIS.

A version of this archives appears in print on February 9, 1972, on Page 44 of the New York edition with the headline: Music From Marlboro Concert Given With Women in Charge. Order Reprints|Today's Paper|Subscribe